Paris Blues- A 1961 Movie - Directed by Martin Ritt- Starring Sidney Portier, Paul Newman, Diane Carroll and Joanne Woodward

 

This is part of my Participation in Paris in July 2023 - Hosted by Words and Peace

https://wordsandpeace.com/

Available on YouTube 

Running Time One Hour and 39 minutes 

Combine the amazing music of Duke Ellington played by Louis Armstrong with two beautiful men along with two handsome women, throw in Paris nightclubs

 artistic black and white cinematography and what's not to love about Paris Blues.

Paul Newman and Sidney Portier play jazz musicians who left America believing Paris would give them a much greater opportunity to develop as musicians.  Diane Carroll and Joanne Woodward play American women just arriving in Paris for a two week vacation.

As did James Baldwin and Ralph Ellison, Sidney Portier's character wanted to leave behind the pervasive racism of America.  They two pairs meet and quickly fall in love,

Sidney Portier's and Diane Carroll's characters argue over whether or not as an African American man it is his obligation to go back home, work for racial justice. He tells her that in Paris he feels much none of the prejudices of America.  She replies that in the five years since he left things have gotten better.

Both of the women want the men to go back with them to the USA when their two week vacation is over,

The scenes in the nightclubs are delightful, there is an implicit comparison of the attitude of a French woman in love with Paul Newman's character to that of Joanne Woodward. 

Paris Blues is a marvelous work.

I will next post on An American in Paris starring Gene Kelly 

I give my great thanks to Emma of Words and Peace for hosting Paris in July 2023

Mel Ulm